What is the avoid list?

     As you can see from the national consumer guide posted on the top of the blog there is an "Avoid" list. In the interest of stores in Tucson and our classes view of how we should present the data, we decided not to obtain complete data/information on which stores have items on the avoid list. We wanted this to be a positive project, but we also want to make consumers aware of this list. The avoid list is shown below:

Many stores have items on the Avoid list, so you, as a consumer, need to be aware of what things you are buying. These items are very common on the other lists and if you don't pay close attention you might purchase the wrong thing. 

For example:

Tuna: Skipjack/Light canned is found on all three lists, but is caught and processed is different ways. 

Point of information: These lists are changed frequently so check the seafood watch website periodically to keep you card updated. The website is below. There are also different cards for different regions that may apply to where you are living it doesn't just have to be in Tucson, AZ.

**More information about the Seafood watch movement can be found at http://www.seafoodwatch.org/

Good Alternatives

     In this post, I'm going to talk about the "Good Alternatives" on the Seafood WATCH National Consumer Guide presented by Monterey Bay Aquarium. These choices should not be your first pick, but they are what the titles says, good alternatives. I'm going to list all of the seafood on the list and some of the locations you can find them at. We did not collect the exact prices for the seafood on the list, just most places where you can find them. It is also not specified if the seafood found at the stores is fresh, frozen, etc. Below is a picture of the list from the national consumer guide:

Here is a list of the good alternatives and the locations of the seafood:

Basa/Pangasius/Swai: 

Fry's (Speedway & Pantano, Grant and Silverbell, 1st & Prince), 

Sam's Club (Stone & River), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road, River and La Cholla), 

Food City (St. Mary's & Grande, Valencia & Midvale, First & Ft. Lowell, 22nd & Country Club, Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz, Valencia & 12th), 

Target (Ina & Thornydale, Broadway & Alvernon), 

Walmart (Ina & La Cholla, Ruthrauff & La Cholla), 

Albertson's (Ina & La Cholla).

Cod, Atlantic: 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road, Sunrise & Kolb), 

Food City (Flowing wells and Roger), 

Walmart (Camino Seco & Broadway, Golf Links & Harrison, Ina & La Cholla, El Con Mall), Albertson's (Ina & La Cholla), 

Target (Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz).

Cod, Pacific: 

Fry's (1st & Grant, 1st & Prince), 

Albertson's (Silverbell and Speedway), 

Walmart (Camino Seco & Broadway, Golf Links & Harrison, Ruthrauff & La Cholla), 

Food City (Valencia & Midvale, First & Ft. Lowell), 

Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club).

Crab, Blue & King: 

AJ's (Campbell and Skyline), 

Fry's (Speedway and Pantano, Grant and Swan, 1st & Grant), 

Albertson's (Silverbell and Speedway, River and La Canada, Ina & La Cholla), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road), 

Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club), 

Walmart (22nd and Craycroft, El Con Mall), 

Safeway (Campbell and Broadway).

Flounders, Soles: 

Trader Joe's (Wilmont and Speedway), 

Fry's (Grant and Swan, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince), 

Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

Albertson's (River and La Canada), 

LeeLee Oriental (Orange Grove and La Cholla), 

Food City (St. Mary's & Grande, Valencia & Midvale, First & Ft. Lowell, 22nd & Country Club, Valencia & 12th), 

Walmart (Ina & La Cholla, Ruthrauff & La Cholla), 

Target (Broadway & Alvernon).

Grouper, Red: 

AJ's (Campbell and Skyline), 

LeeLee Oriental (Orange Grove and La Cholla).

Lobster: 

Sprouts (River and Orange Grove, Pantano & Broadway), 

Costco (River and Orange Grove), 

Safeway (Taqnque Verde and Catalina Hwy, Twin Peaks and Silverbell, Valencia & Nexus), Albertson's (Silverbell and Speedway), 

Bashas (2000 West River Road), 

Walmart (Ruthrauff & La Cholla).

Mahi Mahi: 

Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

Fry's (1st & Grant, 1st & Prince), 

Walmart (Ina & La Cholla, Ruthrauff & La Cholla),

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club), 

Food City (Valencia & 12th), 

Safeway (Valencia & Nexus).

Monkfish: 

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club).

Pollock: 

Safeway (Taqnque Verde and Catalina Hwy), 

Fry's (Silverbell & Cortaro, Grant and Swan), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road), 

Food City (St. Mary's & Grande, Valencia & Midvale, First & Ft. Lowell, 22nd & Country Club, Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz, Valencia & 12th), 

Target (Ina & Thornydale, Broadway & Alvernon, Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz), 

Albertson's (Ina & La Cholla), 

Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club).

Salmon: 

Trader Joe's (Campbell & Limberlost, Grant and Swan), 

AJ's (Campbell and Skyline), 

Fry's (Grant and Swan, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince), 

Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

Safeway (8740 E Broadway Blvd), 

Walmart (7150 E Speedway Blvd, Camino Seco & Broadway, Golf Links & Harrison, Ruthrauff & La Cholla, 22nd and Craycroft) 

Sprouts (1st and Limberlost), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road), 

Albertson's (River and La Canada), 

Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club), 

Food Conspiracy (4th ave).

Scallops: 

Costco (River and Orange Grove), 

Safeway (Taqnque Verde and Catalina Hwy), 

Fry's (Speedway and Pantano, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince, Grant and Alvernon, Houghton & Rita), Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

El Super (3372 S 6th Ave), 

Food City (2950 S 6th Ave), 

Sprouts (1st and Limberlost), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road), 

Walmart (Ina & La Cholla, 22nd and Craycroft), 

Albertson's (Ina & La Cholla), 

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club). 

Shrimp: 

Safeway (Taqnque Verde and Catalina Hwy, Valencia & Nexus), 

Fry's (Speedway and Pantano, Silverbell & Cortaro, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince, Houghton & Rita), Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

Walmart (Grant and Alvernon, Camino Seco & Broadway, Ruthrauff & La Cholla, 22nd and Craycroft, El Con Mall), 

Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road, Sunrise and Kolb), 

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club).

Snapper, Red: 

LeeLee Oriental (Orange Grove and La Cholla).

Squid: 

Fry's (1st & Prince), 

LeeLee Oriental (Orange Grove and La Cholla), 

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club).

Swordfish: 

Sprouts (River and Orange Grove), 

Safeway (Valencia & Nexus).

Tilapia: 

Safeway (Taqnque Verde and Catalina Hwy, Valencia & Nexus), 

Fry's (Speedway and Pantano, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince), 

Sam's Club (Stone and River), 

Albertson's (Silverbell and Speedway, Ina & La Cholla), 

Food City (2950 S 6th Ave, Valencia & Midvale, First & Ft. Lowell, 22nd & Country Club, Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz, Valencia & 12th), 

Target (Ina & Thornydale, Broadway & Alvernon, Irvington & S. Calle Santa Cruz), 

Walmart (Ina & La Cholla, Ruthrauff & La Cholla, 22nd and Craycroft), 

Whole Foods (Speedway & Country Club).

Tuna, Albacore/White canned:
Fry's (1st & Prince),
Bashas (3275 North Swan Road, 2000 West River Road),
Walmart (Camino Seco & Broadway, Golf Links & Harrison),
Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club),
Trader Joe's (Grant and Swan).

Tuna, Skipjack/Light canned:
Walmart (Golf Links & Harrison),
Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club),
Trader Joe's (Grant and Swan).

Tuna, Yellowfin:
Fry's (Grant and Silverbell, 1st & Grant, 1st & Prince),
Sprouts (1st and Limberlost),
Bashas (3275 North Swan Road),
Whole Foods (Speedway and Country Club)
Trader Joe's (Grant and Swan).

It is important to realize that some of the seafood from the "Best Choices" and "Avoid" list are included in this list as well. Pay close attention to the card because some of the options are caught and processed differently, but they are the same type of seafood.

NOTE: This data was collected from students in Dr. Mangin's Marine Conservation 360 class at the University of Arizona from February 19-23, 2014. For the location's specific addresses that are not available it means the fish are located in multiple locations in the Tucson area.

**More information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium seafood watch movement can be found at http://www.seafoodwatch.org/

I like to support smaller grocers.

If you don't prefer to shop at large industrial grocery stores like Safeway and Wal-mart, grocers that focus on environmental and organic parts of food preparation like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Ajs offer fish from the best choice list, as analyzed

Data analysis by Courtney Sanchez & Melissa Stevenson

From this graph, the smaller grocery stores with the most availability for "best" sustainable food were upwards of 42%, which is approximately 8 of the 19 species on the national index card.

The crossroads of these grocery stores are presented because some locational results were not universal. Here is a map of the locations addressed above.

Data Analysis by Courtney Sanchez & Melissa Stevenson

What are the terms of your research?

In Dr. Mangin's Marine Conservation class at the University of Arizona, students gathered research by collecting relevant data information on the availability of sustainable fish at grocery stores in the area. We did not sample all the of the stores in Tucson, but instead, as a class, sampled each store once and answered pre anticipated questions to gather data.
These stores were analyze between February 19-22, 2014.
Relevant Data:

What is the location and name of the store?
Stores surveyed:
Aj's, Albertson's
Bashas
Costco
Food Conspiracy, Food City,
Safeway, Sam's Club
Target, Trader Joes
Wal-mart, Whole Foods

Does the grocery store have seafood from the "Best" list? What kinds?
Most common best choices were:
Clams, Mussels,
Striped Bass, Catfish,
Lobster
Pacific Cod (hook & line)
Halibut
Salmon, Shrimp, Scallops (farmed), Sardines
Tilapia (Ecuador), Rainbow Trout, Troll/Pole Canned Tuna

Data analysis by Courtney Sanchez & Melissa Stevenson

Does the grocery store have seafood from the "Good" list? What kinds?
Similar to the recording of the "Best" data.

Does the store have frozen, canned, and/or fresh seafood?
This question was to gather insight on the abundance of available seafood, depending on the size of the grocery store.

What were the prices?
This can heavily influence the choices that buyers make at the grocery store, there is an additional post that outlines the most affordable and sustainable fish to purchase.

Does the store abide by the Country of Origin Label law?
This label can be unclear and is not universal. The only way to know is if the country of origin is stated on some part of the fish packaging.

* It is important to note that this data is variable due to grocer influx of supply.

I'm on a budget!

Because financial availability heavily influences buyers choice of fish, so analysis of the data took into account that local citizens would be on a budget.

http://weeklygroceryshopping.com/grocerybudgetingsteps/determine-budget/

Classmates Han Nuel Han, Brooke Howard, and Nic Woolstenhulme concluded the average price of each section of the gathered information in terms of the MBA Resource Card. Of all the surveyed stores:

• $8.78 was the average price for 60 surveyed fish off the best choice
• $7.26/lb was the average price for 70 surveyed fish off the good alternative choice 
• $11.47 was the average price for 61 surveyed fish the avoid lists

*Highest fish you can purhcase: Ahi Tuna 19$/lb* 

This is a cross species projection of the types of available fish at each sore.
This data shows that the environmentally damaging fish are the most costly, to the buyers as well.


This also suggests that price is function of species rarity, not sustainability. Good alternative's would provide the most mutual benefit for the civil and ecological terms of this concept, but additional financial support for the "best" sustainable options would provide the best ecological betterment.

Best Choices

     As you can see from the headlining picture of the blog, there is a copy of the Seafood WATCH National Consumer Guide presented by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Today I'm going to talk about the "Best Choices" on that list and where the best places to find them in stores in the Tucson, AZ area. It is also not specified if the seafood found at the stores is fresh, frozen, etc. Below you will find a picture from the national guide of all the best choices:

Here are the best choices, where to find them, and how expensive some are:

Abalone: Food City, $2.99.

Arctic Char: None found.

Bass, Striped: 

Costco (Kino & the 10), 

Safeway (Swan & Sunrise), 

LeeLee Oriental (Orange Grove & La Cholla) $3.99/lb.

Clams, Mussels, Oysters: 

Safeway ($1.99 Clams), 

Fry's, 

Sam's Club ($12.98 for Clams, Mussels, and Oysters all together), 

Albertson's, 

Walmart, 

Sprouts, 

Bashas ($2.99 8oz for Clams, Mussels, and Oysters all together), 

LeeLee Oriental, 

Food City, 

Target, 

Whole Foods, 

Trader Joe's, 

Food Conspiracy.

Cod, Pacific: 

Sprouts,

Costco ($15.99/lb), 

Trader Joe's, 

Walmart ($13.68), 

Safeway, Fry's, 

Sam's Club, 

Albertson's, 

Bashas, 

Target, 

Whole Foods.

Crab, Dungeness & Stone: 

Albertson's ($6.99/lb), 

Fry's, 

Walmart, 

Sam's Club ($16.98), 

Safeway ($9.99), 

Bashas.

Halibut: 

Trader Joe's ($8.99/10oz), 

AJ's, 

Fry's ($8.99), 

Albertson's, 

Safeway, 

Bashas, 

Costco, 

Sprouts, 

Walmart ($15.95), 

LeeLee Oriental, 

Whole Foods.

Lobster, Spiny: Costco, Safeway, Walmart ($15.88).

Sablefish/Black Cod: 

Safeway (Swan & Sunrise),

  Bashas (Kolb & Sunrise).

Salmon: 

Trader Joe's, 

Sprouts, 

Costco, AJ's, Albertson's, 

Safeway, 

Fry's, Target

Sardines, Pacific: 

Fry's ($1.00), 

Albertson's, 

Walmart, 

Costco, 

Safeway ($1.84), 

Bashas.

Scallops: 

AJ's, Walmart ($5.48), 

Safeway, 

Fry's, 

Sprouts, 

Albertson's, 

Costco, 

Bashas, 

Whole Foods ($12.99).

Shrimp, Pink: Costco ($9.99/lb), 

Trader Joe's, Walmart, Fry's, 

Sam's Club, 

Safeway,

Bashas ($9.99).

Tilapia: Albertson's, Target, Trader Joe's, Fry's ($6.99), Safeway, Bashas, Whole Foods.

Trout, Rainbow: Sprouts, AJ's, Fry's, Sam's Club ($12.00), Bashas, Target, Walmart.

Tuna, Albacore/White canned: Fry's, Sam's Club, Walmart, Bashas ($9.00/lb), Sprouts. 

Tuna, Skipjack/Light canned: Walmart, Safeway ($3.79), Whole Foods, Target, Fry's.

Tuna, Yellowfin: Safeway ($9.99), Bashas, Costco, Sprouts, Fry's.

It is important to realize that some of the seafood from the "Good Alternatives" and "Avoid" list are included in this list as well. Pay close attention to the card because some of the options are caught and processed differently, but they are the same type of seafood.

NOTE: This data was collected from students in my Marine Conservation class at the University of Arizona throughout the middle of February, 2014. It only shows stores that we chose to investigate and some of the prices and locations are available. For the location's specific addresses that are not available it means the fish are located in multiple locations in the Tucson area.

**More information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood watch movement can be found at http://www.seafoodwatch.org/

How can I help from Tucson, Arizona?

The way to ensure the future of our oceans is protected is to buy ecologically safe seafood when you purchase it at the grocery store. The Gulf of California heavily influences the seafood industry in Arizona, which means we are directly affected by their overfishing and destructive methods.

What is the COOL Law?
Country of Origin Label. It is illegal to not have one of these on your seafood from the grocery store, although it is slightly unregulated. Knowing where your seafood comes from can be very informative, because some countries practice more environmentally friendly fishing tactics than others.


I don't know where to buy sustainable seafood!
Major corporations like Safeway and Wal-Mart have made the commitment to only buy sustainable seafood, but as data in this research experiment reveals, some seafood in the store is not as good for our oceans as claimed. However, for beginners, it is easy to make a change to purchasing seafood from these stores instead of those that neglect the environmental aspect all together.

 


Also, other users of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app for your iPhone have logged in what seafood certain stores carry, which is very helpful at the grocery store. As more people use the app and log in grocer sustainability status', it will become more useful to other users.

What is "farmed" fish that I see in parenthesis on the tri-fold?
Farmed fish mean that they are a product of aquaculture, which are confined pens in the open oceans where fish are bred commercially primarily for consumption. These are good for the environment because they do not threaten a major decline in the wild populations. However, aquaculture conditions vary by each fish species because they each have distinct characteristics required for farming. There are still issues with aquaculture, like interbreeding of wild and farmed fish, disease outburst, and the effect of fishmeal upkeep on those populations. These effects are minor compared to the possibility of a fully sustainable source of fish protein in aquaculture, and is considered the "best" list of seafood watch food. Salmon and tilapia are common fish that are primarily farmed.

http://www.nireus.com/40_2/The-Mediterranean-Fish-Farming

What about sushi?
There is also a sushi guide that research from this study was not conducted for, but is still helpful! It is also accessible via a pocket guide, and a downloadable app on the specific sushi page.

Who is behind these labels for sustainable fisheries?
The Marine Stewardship Council was established in 1997 and operates as a private sector. Instead of government mandated fisheries, this is an independent ownership that encourages consumers to make the right decision to protect exploited species, and corporations will respond to this consumer demand.